Spokesman of the Polish Episcopate: During Holy Week we will reflect on the most important events of the history of salvation
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, during which we will remember the most important events in the history of salvation – explained the Spokesman of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Fr Leszek Gęsiak SJ.
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The Spokesman of the Polish Episcopate stressed that during Holy Week we will reflect on the most important events of the history of salvation, both the salvation of the world and the salvation of each of us. "These most important salvific events are the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, or the Paschal Mystery" – he noted.
Fr Gęsiak explained that the Paschal Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper and ends with Vespers on Easter Sunday. "For three days we come to church every day participating in the liturgy of the Triduum, which constitutes the proper celebration of the Paschal Feast, not just Easter Sunday and the following Monday" – he acknowledged.
The Spokesman of the Polish Bishops’ Conference encouraged to begin the celebration of the Easter mysteries on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord's Supper. "During this liturgy we remember the institution of the sacraments of the Eucharist and the priesthood. We should thank the Lord on this day for His presence among us in the Blessed Sacrament and for the gift of the ministers of the Eucharist, that is, the priests through whom God – by the power of the Holy Spirit – descends to the altar during Mass" – he pointed out.
Fr Gęsiak recalled that no Mass is celebrated on Good Friday. "It is the only day of the year on which the Eucharist is not celebrated. The Liturgy of the Passion is celebrated in churches, which commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. During it, the Cross as the instrument of our salvation is adored" – he explained. He added that strict fasting, i.e. quantitative and qualitative, is obligatory on that day.
The PBC Spokesman pointed out that the Triduum culminates in the Paschal Vigil, celebrated on the night of the Resurrection. "St Augustine not without reason called it the +mother of all vigils+, since it is rich in readings and symbols that lead us through the entire history of salvation" – he pointed out.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
